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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

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Collection  de 
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Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


ii 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographiques 


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L'Instltut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  At6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


n 


n 


D 


Couverture  endommagde 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restauria  et/ou  peiliculAe 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gAographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  c  rher  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

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mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  fiimAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires; 


D 
D 
D 
□ 

□ 
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D 
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Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  laX  22X 





12X 


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first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —»>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  )!i 
g6nArositA  de: 

La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

Las  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  at  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  p'nt  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — h^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


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different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  A  des  taux  de  r6duction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmi  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


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2 

3 

1 

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3 

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6 

M< 


I 


Special  ^ 

SESSION,  i 


SENATE. 


S  Ex.  Doc. 
)     No.  1. 


rr 


M  ESSAGE 


FROM  THE 


PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

•  THANSMITTINO, 

In  resp<mse  to  Senate  resolution  of  Febrvarif  11,  1889,  a  report  upon  the 

cane  of  Louis  Kiel. 


MAiicii  \'i,  18Hi>.— Uead  and  laid  ii|Mtii  the  talde. 

Makcii  19,  Irti^i). — Ordered  to  be  priuted,  oiiiittiuy  tlie  jiriiited  iiiclosuras. 


To  the  Senate  of  the  United  States: 

1  transmit  herewith, in  answer  to  the  Senate  resolution  of  the  lUh 
ultimo,  a  report  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  with  accomi)an.vin};  papers, 
in  regard  to  the  case  of  Louis  .Kiel,  otherwise  known  as  Louis  David 
Kiel. 

BENJ.   HARRIfJiON. 

Executive  Mansion, 

Washington,  ^'arch  11, 1880. 


To  the  P resident : 

The  Secretary  of  State,  to  whom  was  referred  the  resolution  of  i^he 
Senate  ot  February  11,  1889— 

Tliat  tlie  PresidtMit  be  requested  to  coinrnnnicate  to  the  Sfuatf  such  kiiowledjit*  or 
iiitoriiiatioii  as  may  be  in  his  i)os8eHsi()ii  or  iiiuhsr  his  control  rolatiiif;  to  the  case  of 
one  Louis  Kiid,  otherwise  Louis  David  Kiel,  with  copies  of  all  documents,  pa|)*'rs, 
correspondence,  and  evidence  bearing  upon  the  subject — 

reports  as  follows: 

Compliance  with  the  resolution  in  its  broadest  setise  would  involve 
the  transmission  of  a  voluminous  mass  of  correspondence  with  the 
British  minister  to  this  country,  with  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  with 
our  consuls  at  Montreal  and  Winnipeg,  in  regard  to  the  preservation  of 
neutrality  along  the  border  between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  an<l 
the  ])revention  of  the  participation  of  American  Indians  in  the  rebellion 
against  the  British  Government,  a!)d  also  communication  of  a  great 
mass  of  newspaper  clippings  relative  to  the  military  operations  in  the 
Northwest  Territory  of  the  Dominion  connected  with  the  suppression  of 
the  insurrection  there  in  1885,  which  it  is  imp()ssit)le  to  hav^e  copied 
with  the  present  force  of  the  l)epartment,  and  which  it  is  believed  is 
not  intended  by  the  Senate  resolution. 

That  resolution  is  understood  to  refer  to  the  personal  claim  of  Kiel  to 
protection  as  an  American  citizen.  Accordingly,  copies  of  the  dis- 
patches from  the  United  States  consul  at  Winnipeg,  inclosing  the  peti- 
tion of  Kiel  to  the  President  and  two  letters  to  the  consul,  with  the  peti- 


2 


LOUIS    RIEL. 


tioim  of  certaiii  citizens  of  Caiiadian-Frencli  origin,  the  Department'* 
reply  to  Mr.  AinbroHc  Clioqnet,  and  the  Dominion  Blue  Book,  contain- 
ing a  full  account  of  the  trial  and  condemnation  of  Kiel,  are  herewith 
transmitted.  The  rej>orts  made  by  the  consul  at  Winnipeg  during  the 
course  of  the  trial,  it  has  been  deemed  unnecessary  to  send,  as  they 
consitit  merely  of  extracts  from  newspapers  giving  an  account  of  the 
l)roceedings. 

The  position  of  this  Department  in  regard  to  the  alleged  Americau 
citizenship  of  Kiel,  and  his  recpiest  for  diplomatic  intervention  by  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  to  prevent  the  execution  of  the  sen- 
tence projiounced  upon  him  by  the  Canadian  courts,  was  fully  stated 
verbally  to  some  of  his  friends  who  ])resented  in  ])erson  one  of  the  peti- 
tions above  referred  to.  They  were  informed  that  his  alleged  United 
States  citizeushij)  did  not  give  him  any  immunity  from  Canadian  laws 
for  offenses  committed  within  their  jurisdiction,  and  that  it  had  been 
definitely  certified  to  this  Department  that  the  otl'ense  had  been  wholly 
comuiitted  within  British  jurisdiction. 

Kesj)ectfully  submitted:  ' 

T.  F.  Bayard. 

Department  of  State, 

^yaHhin(fton,  March  2,  1889. 


I 


I 


LIST  OF  jycLOSCRJiS. 

1.  Mr.  J.  W.  Taylor  to  Mr.  Porter.    No  4:{-2.     July  25,  1885. 

2.  Same  to  same.     No.  ■i'Xi.     Aiijrnst  5.  18H.'). 

'A.  Mr.  J.  K.  Marier  to  Mr.  Kavanl.     Annunt  17,  inHn. 

4.  Mr.  J.  W.  Taylor  to  Mr.  ]V)rter.     No.  441.     Septi-iiihor  12.  IH'^n. 

h.  Petition  oftho  citizens  ot  Wayland,  Mass.     An^nst  18,  1885. 

6.  Mr.  A.  Chocinet  to  Mr.  Bayard.    October  15,  1H8,"). 

7.  Mr.  IJayanl  to  Mr.  A.  UlioiiiU't.    Octoltcr  27,  1885. 

8.  K('])ort  of  tlie  Depart  nient  <if  Militia  anil  Defense  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada  upom 

tlie  sujtpressiou  of  tlie  rehellion  in  the  Northwest  Territories  in  18K'). 
I*.  Epitome  of  Canadian  Parliamentary  doenmeiits  in  connection  with  the  Northwest 
rebellion. 


Xo.  1. 
Mr.  Taylor  to  Jkr.  Porter. 


No.  432.] 


United  States  Consulate, 
Winnipeg,  July  25,  1885.    (Received  July  30.) 

Sir  :  T  received  by  the  mail  of  yesterday  a  letter  from  Mr.  Louis  Kiel, 
ilated  the  2l8t  and  posted  atBegiua  on  the  23d  instant,  a  copy  of  which 
is  herewith  inclosed. 

In  reply  1  have  informed  Mr.  Kiel  that  his  communication  and  full 
details  of  the  proceedings  at  liegina  will  be  furnished  by  me  to  the  State 
Department  at  Washington. 

1  inclose  a  letter  of  Kiel  to  a  wealthy  friend,  of  Quebec,  who  has  gen- 
erously secured  the  services  of  counsel  for  defense :  and  also  more  de- 
tailed reports  of  the  trial  at  Reglna. 

1  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

l^<i^  James  W.  Taylor. 


1 


LOUIS   RIEL.  8 

[InchiHure  1  In  No.  i32.1 
iVr.  Bill  to  Mr.  Taylor. 

Common  Jaii,  at  Kkgina,  ./u/iy  21,  18f^r>. 

Sir:  I  am  in  tlic  painful  condition  of  bein^;  brought  belore  the  court  at  Regina, 
under  charge  of  high  treuHon. 

I  have  the  honor  to  let  you  know,  to  inform  yon  that  I  am  not  guilty. 

I  have  the  highi-Mt  rt-Bpfct  for  the  stipendiary  niagiHtrati-H  before  whom  I  have  to 
answer  ;  but  their  court  ih  not  the  one  to  try  my  caw,  as  that  case  iiad  itN  origin  long 
before  the  stipendiary  court  of  Kegina  existed. 

As  American  citizen,  I  humbly  appeal  to  the  (iJovernment  of  my  adopted  land  for 
help  ti.rungh  you.  1  assure  you  my  re(|Ufst  is  not  inspired  by  any  of  those  fet^iings 
which  might  have  a  tendency  tu  create  ditlicully  between  the  IJnited  States  and 
Euglanu. 

I  am  small,  and  my  humble  condition  prevents  me  from  being  heard  by  the  British 
dignitaries  of  the  Dominion.  I  um  contident  that  if  you  would  deign  wiite  to  the 
American  Government  in  my  behalf,  they  would  not  refuse  to  say  a  good  word  in  my 
favor;  that  good  word  would  secure  nie  »  fair  trial,  and  a  fair  trial  would  save  me. 

While  in  Montana,  I  have  exerted  myself  to  be  a  good  citizen,  and  I  have  worked 
in  harmony  with  the  United  States  authorities  in  tlie  Territory.  I  nave  even  had 
tlie  honor  to  bo  appointed  several  times  United  States  special  deputy  marshal.  If  I 
mistake  not  there  are  in  the  Department  of  Justice  at  Washington  documents  which 
speak  favorably  of  me. 

In  God  I  trust  that  a  friendly  word  to  the  British  minister  would  go  far  to  protect 
me  from  inattention. 

Also,  I  have  no  means  to  deiray  the  expenses  of  a  trial  snch  as  the  one  I  have  t() 
stand.  I  beg  the  American  Government  to  help  me  that  way  too.  Please  transmit 
my  humble  petition,  if  it  is  not  altogether  out  of  place. 

Thanking  you  for  all  the  favors  you  have  d«)ne  me  in  the  past,  and  praying  that 
you  may  be  fully  rewarded,  I  hope  the  Providence  of  (}od  will  spare  nie,  through  ua 
generous  a  consul  as  you,  and  through  as  good  a  (iovernment  as  that  of  the  States. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  humble  servant. 

Loins  RiEL. 


No.  2. 

Mr.  Taylor  to  My.  I'ortcr. 

No.  433.]  United  States  Consulate, 

Winnipeg  J  August  5,  18^5.     (Received  Augusi  11.) 

Sir  :  The  trial  of  Louis  liiel  for  treason  tertninated  on  Saturday, 
August  1,  by  couvictioii  with  a  stroiijf  recoiniiieiidalioii  to  mercy  by 
the  jury,  aiui  a  sentence  of  death  to  be  executed  on  the  18th  of  Sep- 
tember. 

I  forwarded  in  dispatch  No.  432  a  telegrai)hic  summary  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  tirst  two  days  of  the  trial,  July  20  and  21,  which  were 
followed  by  adjournment  to  Tuesday,  July  28.  I  now  inclose  a  fuller 
report  of  the  oi)ening  arguments  of  counsel  upon  the  constitution  of  the 
court  and  the  competency  of  a  stipendiary  magistrate,  with  a  jury  of 
six  virtually  of  his  own  selection,  and  without  the  intervention  of  a 
grand  jury,  to  try  a  person  charged  with  a  capital  offense. 

It  will  be  a  hideous  mockery  of  justice  to  execute  Kiel  before  his 
counpel  can  submit  their  argument  on  questions  of  such  magnitude  and 
doubt  to  the  tribunal  of  last  resort. 

1  also  inclose  a  more  succinct  but  sufficiently  minute  report  of  the 
testimony  subsequently  given  and  the  closing  proceedings  of  the  trial. 

Kiel  has  addressed  me  a  second  communication,  a  copy  of  which,  and 
also  a  copy  of  my  note  of  July  27,  informing  him  of  the  receipt  and 
transmission  to  the  State  Department  of  his  letter  of  July  21,  are  here- 
with forwarded. 

I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

James  W.  Taylor. 


4  LoriS    KIKL. 

|In<'l()Hiiie3  III  No    IIM.— CuriuKpniiiU'iicnof  LoiiIh  Kiel  willi  L'nitcil  .Stuti<it  cuiihiiI  nt  Winiil|ie)(.| 

( 1 )   Mr.    r,ujh>r  to  Mr.  liirl. 

IMti;!)  Stai,i:s  Consci.atk, 

It'iiiiiiiny,  J{.  A'.  ./,,  '/iilfi  "JT,  1^H^^. 

Sik:  Voiir  Ictti  r  <il'  .lul.v  21  wuh  rt'ceived  by  iiic  on  llie  'J-lth  of  July  anil  )iii»  hi't'ti 
cari'l'iilly  coiisiiltTiMl. 

I  have  foiwanlcd  a  cojiy  to  tlw  State  D<'partinfnt  at  Wasliiiiytoii,  accoiii|iaiiie<l  by 
your  coiiiiiiniiicatidii  to  Dr.  K.  FiHi-ttif  July  H,  and  a  t'lill  report  of  tin*  j)i<»c<'<)(linf»s  in 
;^oiir('aMi>  bctoit!  tbi-  stipendiary  niiiKi^trate  at  ]{e;:iiia. 

I  sliall  pr<>iii|>tiy  adviNi-  yoiiiHelf  or  yonrcoiinsul  of  any  action  upon  your  conniinnicu- 
tion  by  tlie  Wasbin;;lr>n  antboritieM. 

I  am,  Hir,  your  obedient  Hervant, 

jA.MKt*  \V.  Tayi.ok. 


(U)  Mr.  likl  to  Mr.  Taylor. 

TltlSOX    I)K   KK(iIXA, 

(no  date)  xitue  .hti/imt  I. 

Sik:  I  bave  received  your  true  favor  of  t be  "vMlli  iiitimo.  Tbi>  niiinber  of  my  tliaiiks 
to  yon  is  e(|inil  to  tliat  of  our  starH  ;  and  tlie  sincerity  oi  my  aeknowlednnient  sbineH 
out  of  my  beart  dni'iii<;  iiiy  misforluiie,  trying  to  barnioni/.u  witb  the  gentle  brigbt 
cob)rs  of  tlie  Ameriean  Hag. 

I  liave  tbe  boiior  to  send  yon,  as  best  I  can,  a  part  of  my  address  to  tbe  court  on 
Friday,  tbe  last  of  July.  1  bave  not  presently  iiiKb'r  my  band  copy  of  my  ob.serva- 
tions  as  to  tbe  imperfection  of  llie  jury,  as  to  tbe  Strang*'  mode  of  tbeir  selection  by 
an  otticer  of  tbe  Ciowii,  iieitber  as  to  tbe  incompetency  of  tbe  «'oiirt.  I'erbaps  you 
\^ill  be  able  to  see  it  in  )iiiblic  print. 

Saturday,  August  1,  1  asked  tbe  court  for  tbe  a])pointment  of  a  coinnii.ssion  to  give 
ine  opportunity  to  produce  all  tbe  circumstances  of  my  case,  and  tor  Ww,  formati'ii  of 
a  special  tribunal  before  \vhi<-b  1  could  ajuieal.  My  view  is  tbis  :  Tbe  troiildes  of  'Hh 
in  tile  Saskatcbewjin  aretbe  ccmtinuation  oi  tbe  tronldesof '(i'j-'70,  »\bicb  tlie  (IttHwa 
government  lia^e  never  duly  settled  ;  and  I  wisb  tbat  a  tborongb  investigation  bo 
made  on  tbe  (inestion  of  tbose  troubles  from  '(lit  to  tlie  present  time. 

Tbe  Ottawa  goveriiment  bave  adopted  concerning  tbe  balfbri-ed  and  In  lian  title 
to  lands  an  altfMretber  ditl'ereiit  view  and  ^iriiicijile  tliaii  those  adopted  by  tbe  Ameri- 
can Government  on  tlie  same  (lueNtion.  Tbe  annuities  paid  by  tbe  United  States  to 
tbeir  Indians  are  distributed  to  tbein  as  donations.  Tbat  principb^  leaves  tbe  admin- 
istration of  Indian  atfairs  at  libeity  to  ad(>])t  a  cour.se  of  action  sncb  as  circumstances 
direct  best.  Hut  on  tbis  side  of  tbe  line  ii  fixed  Indian  policy  bas  been  a(b)pted,  and 
its  jirinciple  bas  been  made  constitutional,  tbereby  giving  llie  Indians  and  tbe  iialf- 
breeds  a  constitutional  jdat form.  Tliegovernment  of  tbe  Dominion,  by  its  treaty  with 
tbe  <lelegates  of  tbe  Northwest,  agreed  that  a  certain  proportion  <if  the  landsbe  granted 
to  tbe  half  breeds  throughout  the  territory,  and  to  inaugurate  tbe  princifde  in  Mani- 
toba. One  million  four  hundred  tbouiiaiid  acres  were  guarantied  to  them  by  the 
tbirty-tirst  claii.se  of  the  constitution  of  tbat  province.  As  its  area  contained  at  that 
time  only  about  9,500,000  acres,  tbe  lanci  grant  was  about  one-seventh  of  the  whole 
BUi>erticie. 

The  half-breeds  of  tbe  Northwest  want  that  tbe  same  proportion  be  guarantied  to 
them  ;  that  their  seventh  be  valiied  and  understood  to  re[)resent  a  capital  in  the  hands 
of  the  government,  and  that  an  interest  be  jiaid  to  them  every  year  on  that  capital. 

And  as  tbe  half-breeds  of  Manitoba  have  had  the  constitutional  guaranty  of  that 
seventh  of  the  land  on  account  of  their  Indian  title,  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  North- 
Avcst  are  naturally  dissatisfied  tbat  the  Indian  title  should  carry  less  for  them  than 
for  the  half-breeds.  Besides,  the  termt  of  the  tliirty-tirst  clause  of  the  Manitoba  <act 
state  that  the  half-breed  liind  grant  is  made  toward  extinguishing  ibe  Indian  title, 
which  give  tbe  Indians  to  iniderstand  fhat  when  tlio  Federal  Government  will  have 
given  as  much  to  the  pure  Itidians  as  it  gave  the  half-breeds,  then  only  will  tbe  In- 
dian title  entirely  be  extinguished.  Ttie  matter  at  stake  is  not  a  small  one,  consider- 
ing the  Northwest  to  have  a  superficie  of  about  1,195,000,000  acres  of  land. 

Tbe  Ottawa  government  disregards  most  openly  tbe  very  views  whicn  they  have 
Bo  liound  themselves  by  constitution  to  follow.  On  tbe  other  hand,  the  half-breeds 
and  Indians,  being  unwilling  rogive  tbeir  con.stitutional  rights,  have  petitioned  until 
tbe  Ottawa  Government  resoh  ed  to  silence  them  by  force,  as  they  are  just  now  doing. 
Mr.  Consul,  this  contradict*  ry  policy,  it  seems  to  me,  ought  to  be  modified  seri- 
onsly,  either  by  repealing  altoj  ether  t  le  thirty-first  clause  of  the  Manitoba  constitu- 
tion or  by  fulfilling  it.  Otherv.'ise  the  Indian  and  half-breed  question,  as  it  stands  on 
this  aide  of  the  line,  may  react  fearfully  amongst  the  American  Indians  and  half- 
breeds.    For  that  reason  I  have  thougiit  that  inasmuch  as  that  reaction  may  disturb 


LOU  IK    RIKL. 


r. 


n«  '|||«         ir||||\.|ir|\'         1«     lll«     II        lll<      J  11(1*1' 

C'iisioni'd   t  lu'lllNt'lv'CS  lllnl    Ciinsfd  tlm  hik^   i->  m    n.    mt-  .-'imnn.n: 

Mr.  (.'oii.sul,  if  (Jiid's  ;;o(m1ii<'kk  and  liiiiiiaiiit.v  do  not  toiiu'  to  my  aid   tlii'  sniiiiiro 
ii|;aiiiHt   iiii^  is  tlmt  tli«^  Irtli  «it°  Sf|it<'iiilicr  next   I  Mliall  <-i-aHe  to  live. 

May  U()<1  pn'srive  yoii  and  liel|»  you  in  all  tliinj^s.     And  lecfivd  my  d('c|HNt  ;rrati- 


N't'iy  rcNiiPctfiiliy,  your  liiiinl)l<!  hci  vant, 


T.<»i  IS  RiKl,. 


No.   ."). 


.1//'.  ./.  E.  Marier  to  Mr.  l>ayanl. 

Lawrence,  . I M//»N#  17,  l.SH.").    (RecciviMl  Atijiust  19.) 
Sir:  At  11  iiit'i'tinj;  lieUl  ycistonlay  by  citizens  of  Ciniiidiiiii  I'lviicli  de- 
scent 1  WH8  dire<rt«Ml  us  their  secretary  to  send  yon  the  iiich»setl  petition. 

As  tlie  present  f.'overnnient  has  at  heart  tlie  jndicions  redress  of  all 
wronjjsand  proper  (lispensati<Mi  of  all  Anicrican  citizens"  rijxlts,  I  hcj;  to 
call  yonr  attention  as  to  the  i)osition  taken  of  late  by  our  vice-consul  in 
Winnii)e};;  so  much  so  as  to  insure  him  a  position  as  a  Dominion  ollicial  if 
lie  was  recalled,  showing  in  many  o(H;asions  his  rather  nnbonndol  inter- 
est to  tlie  rei)resentatives  of  the  Hritish  [)ower.  As  sncli  actions  ma\  i>e 
detrimental  to  the  canse  we  aie  snbmittin}»'  to  you,  I  deem  it  my  duty  as 
an  American  citizen  to  jrive  you  knowledyie  of  the  fact,  of  wliicli  1  have 
reliable  information  from  WiniMpej;  and  elsewhere. 

lielyiufj  on  the  wisdom  and  iin])artiality  of  our  Federal  Government, 
to  which  y(»ii  belong",  we  are  assured  in  advance  that  the  cause  we  are 
advocating  will  be  justly  dealt  with. 

I  am,  Mr.  Secretary,  your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

.1.  E.  INIarikr. 
Secretary  of  ('anadianFrcnch  Cilizciis  utul  h'rxideiits 

of  Lawnnce,  jJass. 


[Incloaiii'f.l 
Vefition  of  the  Canadian- French  citizena  of  the  Vnited  States  of  Lairvenvf,  Ma>"*. 

SiK  :  Consideritif;  the  i)artiality  shown  in  the  proceed inj^s  :n  the.  trial  of  r.r»ni.s  David 
Kiel,  in  whie.b  the  aecnsed  wan  .sentenced  to  death  for  1/iyh  treason  towanls  Jli-r 
Majesty,  the  Queen  ol' Great  liritain,  for  the  more  or  U'sh  active  part  In;  has  taken  in 
the  recent  northwcHt  Canadian  tronhli^s,  and  clainiin>;  that  the  said  Lonis  David  Riel 
i8  a  citizt-n  of  the  United  States,  we  hope  that  the  Anicricau  Government  will  have 
liiui  eqnita1)ly  treated.  \ 

In  consecinence,  Mr.  Secretary,  we  Wg  of  yon  to  be  our  interpreter  to  His  Excel- 
ency  the  President  of  the  United  States,  reciucitinji  him  to  assist  in  juvventinji  this 
abuse  of  justice,  and  that  the  Starsand  Stripes,  which  are  our  safej^uard,  shall  shield 
under  its  noble  folds  the  unfortunate,  who  is  tlie  apparent  victim  of  fanaticism. 

Hoping  that  our  request  will  be  favorably  considered,  we  are,  Mr.  Secretary, 
Your  most  hniiible  servanlH,  citizeua  and  resiilents  of  Lawrence,  Mass., 

,Tf)SKI»H    Bl.ANCnKT, 

Maoloike  Boi.Dt:c, 

.IaMKS   L.    Boi.DlTC, 

EuxEST  A.  Dkmahs, 

HKCT01{    DftllKSNK, 

and  four  hundred  and  tive others. 
Hon.  T.  F.  Bavai:d, 

IStcrvtanj  of  State,  Waxhinijtoii,  D.  V. 


6  I-OUIS   KIEL. 

No.   4. 

Mr.  Taylor  to  Mr.  Porter. 

No,  111.!  Unitki)  States  Consulate, 

]Vhnni>f{i,  Septemhir  12,  l^.S").     (lieccivcd  SeptenilxT  17.) 

Sir:  IikjIosimI  is  si  jK'titioii  of  Louis  Kiel  to  the  President. 
I  loiward  the  orifjinal,  thiiikiiij;  that  such  a  course  may  be  expected 
under  the  circunistaiures. 

J  am,  sir,  .vour  obedient  servant, 

James  W.  Taylor. 


|Iii<'  (mure  in  iliH|iMtr)i  No, 441  at  Wiinili>np.  ] 

I'll  it  ion  of  I.oiiis  Jlicl  lo  llif  Presidini, 
■Ii'^iis,  >iaiivc/  lions. 
M;ii'H',  iiiti'ici'ilc/,  |ionr  nous. 
Jiiscpli,  |ii  ic/  |ioiii'  noiiH. 

[XoTK, — Above  on  (hut  iiajic.  icvfrse  jinjto  lilank,] 

To  His  Kxeellciuy ('i.k\  t.i.anm. 

I'rt'Kidt'iil  of  the  I'liilcd  StntcH  mid  to  flin  Excvltriui/n  Cahiiiel : 

Mr,  Phksiiu'.nt  :  T\u'  iiiKli'isiniifd,  y<mr  liniiiMf  iK-fitioncr,  a  forci^iiu'r  l>y  hiitli, 
lu'ciimn  AiiuricMii  citi/tn  alioiit  tlio  Itith  day  of  Alaicli,  l-'^:>,  at  H.lciia,  LewiH  uiul 
Clark  Coiiiily,  .Minifaiia. 

lit'  is  a  native  ot  tlir  Nortli west  Territory,  iti  Hriti,sli  North  Aiiierieii. 

Hf  lias  tlif  lioiior  to  Miliir.it  tliat  tlie  Hritisli  (iovcniiiieiit  ;iave,  two  h  mid  red  yearn 
a^o,  toa  coiiniaiiy  of  a<lvfiitiin'rs,  tiie  monopoly  of  tiie  fnr  trade  in  tlie  NortliwcHt, 
tlierelty  deprivinj;  tlie  Nortliwest  of  its  ri<ilif  and  of  the  jidv.'iiita<;es  of  tradiiijjj  with 
the  worM,  and  depriviiiff  tlie  world  of  its  rij^ht  and  of  tlie  Iteiudit.s  of  tratlinj^  witli 
tile  Xorf Invest. 

That  the  ^ivin^ out  of  siieh  a  monopoly  over  the  Noi'i  h  west  left  that  conntry,  new 
as  it  was,  alto;;eilier  at  the  nierey  of  the  Ilndson's  I?ay  Company  ;  tlu!  more  ho  that, 
from  its  haviii;^  lieen  eonstitnted  at  tirst  as  a  iaaj;istratnre  ovj-r  its  own  servants,  the 
same  eomiiany  was  made,  in  the  conrst!  of  time,  by  iinjierial  authority,  to  grow  upas 
the  ijovenimeiit  of  the  Narthwest. 

'I'liat  tlii.-i  measnie  kept  the  Noithwest  eonliiied  to  a  stiiet  "  bloeiis  "  diiriiiff  hIx  or 
Steven  jreiierations:  was  a  eause  of coiitinnal  ealainity  to  the  Territory  itself;  ofdain- 
ajie  to  the  adjoining;  eonntries,  an  insult  us  well  as  an  iii.jnstici'  to  the  worhl  at  larj;*'. 

And  that,  haviiifj  been  resoit»>d  to  without  reason  whatever,  coiise(iiiently  without 
jiisiue  at  all,  it  eoiihtitntes  the  British  Government  j^nilty  of  an  extraordinary  criiuo 
anaiiist  hnmaiiity. 

The  undersiirned.  your  humble  jielitiouer,  snbuiits  that  therefore  the  British  Oovern- 
meiit  have  foiteiled  loii<!;  a<;o  all  title  and  rijiht  of  <foverniny;  the  Northwest. 

The  iindeisijfned  has  tlie  honor  to  sulunit  that  iu  'til*  the  (ittawa  government  envy- 
Mi;!  the  lauds  of  the  Northwest,  boujjbt  iliein  (so  to  speak  of  the  trausuetiou)  from 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Conii>any.  wliieli  <lid  not  own  them  :  that  the  Hndstui's  Bay  re- 
(liieste<I  <uie-twentieth  of  the  'J'erritoiy  for  the  iierpetratiou  of  the  Hale,  nud  was 
granted  it;  that  the  tiauhaetioii,  all  against  jirobity,  as  it  was,  received  the  sane- 
tion  of  the  British  (■overnment,aud  was  carried  out  under  its  careful  attention  ;  that 
in  so  doing  the  British  Goveniuieut  iei)laced  the  oppn-ssive  ealamitous  fnr-trado 
monopoly  by  one  conii»lclely  ruinous,  as  it  gave  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  a  still 
greater  hold  ou  the  resomees  of  the  country  than  before,  and  as  it  established  the 
government  of  another  colony  and  of  dittt  lent  intercHt  muster  of  the  wliide  land,  and 
at  liberty  to  disjiose  of  it,  as  of  its  own  soil,  as  of  its  own  property,  without  advan- 
tages in  return,  without  aiy  couipensation. 

'I'hat  the  iJominion  began  immediately  to  survey  the  Northwest,  to  cut  the  old  sur- 
veys and  ignore  tliem,  to  cut  roatls  throngli  private  ])roperties; 

That  the  Canadian  surveyors  at  that  work  were  soldiers  under  disguise  and  num- 
bering some  four  or  five  lini  dred; 

That  the  Dominion  bavin;  at  the  same  time  iu  view  to  usurp  the  rule  of  the  North- 
west, made  up  a  .iii-on])  of  men,  gathered  from  the  vicinity  of  Ottawa,  fnrnishetl  that, 
group  with  Jive   hundred  carbines,  called  it  the  Northwest  Couucil,  cxj  orted  it,  and 


LOUIS  kii:l. 


< 


atti'ni|it«*(l  U>  M'lit  it  Ht  the  I'ort  (iiiir.v,  wluii  tlir  live  Imiiilrcil  Mir\«>_\<iii«  tiinnd  out 
to  li*>  II  N(iiiaili-oii  of  iiiilitiii; 

That  tin'  Hudson's  Hav  ('ompaiiy  t'tnli'avon-d  tiM-ii  to  liaml  ovcrtotli*'  iiivailoiH 
that  frovt'riiini'iit  of  tin*  Nortliwcst  wliiili  lsn;;laiiil  liu<l  no  coiiHtaiitly  iif^lccttMl  and 
8(>  olm'iiiatuly  knpt  ut  the  tliMjiosal  of  tiatliiii;  a<lM>niiiri-iM  : 

That  the  |icoph-  of  thn  Nortliwi'Nt  rHHiNtcil  I'lMT^ri'lic-ally  th*>  IIiiiImod'h  Kay  Com- 
paiiy'n  iiiii|iiitoiiH  dcHi^iiH  and  thf  Ottawa  di*>adfiil  Hrhi-iin',  and  ncvt-r  failed  lo  clix- 
iiify  thii  d«'ft'nsf  of  thric  cannii  with  •■xpn'snionM  of  loyalty  to  Kn;;land  ; 

That  the  Hrit'Hh  (iovernnicnt  aiiHWon-d  thfir  niaunaninious  lidflity  l>y  promptly 
appointing  hh  ^{ovt'rnor  of  tiio  NortiiwoNt  tln>  Ottawa  f^ovt-rnor  hiniNulf — that  is  t(» 
Huy,  th«<  vi-ry  iiniii  in  tiio  i-nipift' whono  ixmilion,  whoHc  a<lvi.st4i'M,  ami  roiiHt'tpn'iitly 
wlioH«>  whol»i  intort'Ht  w«Mti  inoif  coitainly  a;;ainMt  th«^  Northwest ;  appointmi'Mt  «!on- 
Hpicmmsly  partial  and  iinjuHt,  which  thi-mv  at  oiicu  all  tlie  chanucH  on  the  Mtrongust 
Huh',  in  oppr*>sNin;{  the  wtNik  as  inntdi  iin  jioNsildf; 

That  tin-  HritiHh  Oov.^rnim'nt  tlmii  h'ft  thti  NorthweMt  without  adniinii4lratioii,  ex- 
I)OHi'd  to  tint  many  perils  of  anar<:hy  and  invasion  ; 

Th<^  nndersi^ncd,  your  hnnilile  petit ioniT,  snlnnitH  and  respectfully  elaim.s  that  by 
oommiltiiiK  this  other  reniarkahle  series  of  outra^jes  anainst  the  Northwest,  the  Brit- 
ish (jSovernment  have  a^ain  forfuited  all  titlt^  and  ri;;ht  of  <:overiiin<;  it  ; 

Your  linmhlH  petitioner  snltmits  that  tin;  people  of  the  Northwest,  left  to  tliem- 
H«dves,  had  to  or^ani/.e  an*l  to  eoiistitutu  a  t^tale  of  their  own,  i<>  take  i-are  of  puhlio 
atfairs,  ami  for  their  ]irotee|ion  ; 

That  the  honorahle  William  McTavish,  fln-n  still  jjovernor,  in  iiatne, of  the  North- 
west, having  Iteen  asked  by  a  etniveiition  of  the  |ieople's  representatives  if  he  could 
approve  ol'the  new  state,  entrealed  tlietn  to  push  on  th«-ir  W(U"k  ;  ami  his  answer  to 
the  Hon.  .lolin  Sutherland  and  Mr.  I'ra/.er,  tlu^  two  ineniherH  waitin<(  on  him,  was 
"  For  (iod's  sake,  form  a  >iovernment." 

That  wlien  the  lionventimi  sat,  Hon.  .John  Black,  ;;overmir  arf  interim  and  ,ind;;e  of 
the  Jl.  H.  (^)m])any,  was  one  of  the  members  elected  by  the  people  and  consented  to 
net  as  chairman  ot  the  c(uivenrion  ; 

That  the  people's  representatives,  niimberinir  frtrty.  beinif  in  ses-.iii!i  at  Fort  (Jarry, 
then  formed  a  jiovernment  and  elected  your  humble  petitioner  as  its  liijjiiest  employee, 
February  11,  1^^7(); 

That  mote  than  two-thirds,  thirty  two  out  of  the  forty,  voted  the  new  jjovcnimeiit 
into  existence  and  (elected  your  humble  jietitioner  at  the  head  of  it  ; 

That  the  eijiht  of  litu-  members  were  in  favor  to  that  extent  that  tht'y  abstained  from 
■ofteritijj  any  oppositioti; 

That  inwnediately  after,  Hon.  .lud^^e  Ulack,  If.  H.  Company  <;overnor«(/  in'irim  and 
rhairimin  of  the  convention,  h  ft  his  seat  and  j^ave  it  courteously  to  the  (iresulent  of 
the  provisional  f;overnment,  according  to  tin-  convent icm's  vote; 

'J'h.al,  on  the  same  occasion,  Hon..)ohn  Mlack,  II.  15.  Com|>any's  <joveriior  flf?  iH<>Tim 
and  Jud^e,  haviny;  been  chosen  by  the  president  of  the  NcMlliwest  .is  om-  (d' the  dele- 
gates to  Oltawa,  accei»ted  the  api»oiiitmiMit,  with  the  company's  approval ; 

That  some  days  later  the  Hon.  1).  A.  .Suiith,  a  commissioner  sent  l)y  the  ixovertior- 
gener.al  to  the  Nortliwest,  went  in  company  with  Keveri'ud  .\rchdeacou  McLean,  now 
hishop  of  the  Saskatidiewan,  and  persu.-uled  the  districts  whosi<  ei>,dit  re]ireseuratives 
had  remained  neutral  to  join  and  to  acknowh-dice  your  humble  j)etili(mer  ;is  president 
*if  tlie  provisional  jjoverninent  ;  and  Hem.  D.  A.  Smith's  advice  haviii;;  been  accedetl  to, 
the  niulersi<rued,  your  humble  ]ietitiouer,  received  tluMi  the  nuaninious  support  of  the 
people. 

As  a  result  the  new  state  of  the  Northwest,  in  '7(1 :  its  ^overnnu'nt  were  leijally  coii- 
Htitnted  and  tlie  election  of  its  president  was  carried  out  according  to  rej^jnlar  consti- 
tutionality. 

Your  humble  petitioner  respecifuUy  submits  that  as  soon  as  tlie  new  state  wai  or- 
ganized, its  <j;overnuieut  formed,  and  its  president  elected,  four  commissiouers.  Rev- 
erend .1.  B.  Thibanlt.  Vicar-General,  Colonel  de  Salaberry,  Hon.  I).  A.  Smith,  and  his 
lordship,  Archbishop  Tachd,  appointed  by  the  Crown,  invited  the  nndersij^ned  to 
send  delej^ates  to  Ottawa,  and  there  to  negotiate  the  terms  of  the  federal  (lact  be- 
tween tlr   East  and  the  Northwest. 

That  such  invitation  was  a  lecognitioii  by  the  Crown  itself,  of  the  state,  of  the 
government,  and  of  tin-  president  of  the  Northwest. 

Your  humble  petitioner  submits,  that  he  aiiiiointed  in  his  official  capacity  a  dele- 
gation acitordi  tig  to  thti  repeated  and  jiressiiig  invitation  received:  that  his  delegates 
proceeded  to  Ottaw.a,  were  received  by  the  Crown  on  his  credentials  and  admitted  to 
treat  on  his  instructions,  which  was  another  irretuisable  official  recognition  of  the 
«tate,  of  the  governnieut,  and  of  the  president  of  the  Northwest;  by  whom!  By  the 
Crown. 

Y'oiir  hiinible  petitioner  respectfully  submits  that  hisilelegates  having,  at  the  oiit- 
start,  set  forth  that  they  could  not  begin  to  treat  without  the  guarantee  of  a  gen- 
eral and  complete  amnesty,  and  having  reciuired  it  as  a  condition  sine  qua  no»,  the 


8 


l.Ol'IS    KIKL. 


Virr-Kiiig  «)f  ('niiiii1;i  iiiiKwcrrd  iiioHt  fiivmalilv  tliat  lln'  Crown  wiis  yoiit;;,  for  (crtuiii 
ami  Mile,  i<>  aiiii'Cht  \  all  tin-  \>iit*\  Iron  Mrs,  atlrr  i  In-  rtiiicliiMJoii  nl  t  he  li*-at,\ ,  ami  tliat 
tlic  IVdriiil  i(j;iiiic  iti  till"  Null liM est  would  lie  iiianj;iiral<d  l>y  iln' priH  lainatloii  of 
tliat  ainm'Nty  <  oiiipNtf  and  );<'iii  ral.  And  tli<-  ifovtriior^iiit  ral,  l.ord  LiN<;ur,  }(iivo 
liJM  Vict'- Kinnl.N  paKdi-  an  Hfcnrity.  A  tliir<i  nrii  }ii>Hilivcrn-i><iiiiluiii  hfi  the  Cntirn  of  the 
hIiiU',  of  Ihi-  i/oi  iiiniii  III,  (111(1  iirtHiilinl  i>f  thr  .SihiIiiiihI, 

TIh>  nndl■^^<i^m'<l,  ><inr  hiimldc  in'titioiiii,  icH|ifctfnily  HulnnitN  tliat  Iim  lordHliip, 
ArrliliislMip 'raclii',  llifii  a|i|Hiinli'd  Wy  tlu<  ;i;ovi'rnoi-|ri>iiiTal  of  Canada  an  pacilirr  of 
tlic  Nortli\>(>Nl,  ^avc  yonr  liuinld<>  pi'titioiirr  IiIh  ollirial  word  of  lioiinr  that  tli<- am- 
n<-Nty  ill  i|nfNtioii  would  lir  proclainicil  at  the  tunc  sptcifinl  :  tiial  is.  at  tlic  vi-ry 
opfiiinn  of  ronddcraiion  in  the  NoitliwcHt  ; 

Tliat  tli*>  arclilii.sliop  owi-d  liiN  coininiH^ion  aM  iniicli  to  tin-  |il)-HNnr<- of  t lit-  ItritiHli 
(lovi'minrnt  iim  to  tin-  novcrnoi-nt'in'ral'H  clioiff  ;  coiini  ipii'iit  ly,  lu'Md«'s  lit-iny  a.  loiirth 
mnarkaldf  rcro^nitioii  of  tlif  sialr  );ov<-rnni<Mit  and  prcsidnit  of  tli<<  N'oitliwi-Nt,  IiIm 
word  of  lionor  ih  tli<*  word  of  honor  not  only  of  tin-  ;;;ovi-rnor-;ri'm-iiil  l>iit  of  lliu 
liritii^li  (■ovtM'iiincnt  itNtdf  coni'i'min^  tin*  Mine  mm  imti  condition  ot  anmcNty. 

YoiM' liniiddit  petitioner  C(nild  licm  invii'W  tiio  w  liol«  treaty  uh  it  took  place;  point 
•lilt  tlm  many  wayH  in  wliicli  it  lias  lieeii  broken  ;  and  show  l»y  I'actM  that  the  prcHtMit 
((ovcM'nnieiit  of  Manitoba  and  of  the  Noith\«est  In  ii  )ierlect  chaos  of  illcfrality,  iin- 
coiiMtitiitionality,  and  arldtiary  legislation;  Inif  for  the  sake  of  lire\ily  will  conliin^ 
to  the  one  article  ol  the  stipiilations  on  w  liicli  the  breach  of  I'aiili  has  been  aiknowU 
ed^ed  and  established  lieyond  all  iios.sibiliiy  of  dlseiisHion  and  doubt. 

The  limb  rsi^ned  has  the  honor  to  refer  your  excellency  and  your  innst  lionornldo 
ministers  (I)  to  a  jiainplilet  tntitled  "Amnesty,"  written  by  Archldshop  Tacln^  in 
the  year  l^74,  whereby  his  lordship  proves  his  commission,  his  ijlimitctl  instrnctioiiH^ 
liis  wold  of  honor,  and  that  such  word  of  honor  has  been  repudiated  liy  the  Crown. 

(2)  To  the  re|ii>rt  of  a  coniiniltee  appointed  by  the  house,  of  comiiioiiN  of  Cunatlil, 
in  the  year  1^71.  for  the  purpose  of  empiirinn  into  the  causes  of  ihe  Northwest  i roub- 
les and  the  reasotiH  which  had  delayed  the  )ii(icl.'imation  of  amnesty;  wherein  iiiok^ 
than  a  do/.eii  of  hi;;hly  respectable  witnesses  pros  e  that  an  amnesty  <;eiieral  and  com- 
]dete  has  been  ^niaranteed  and  that  it  has  not  lieeii  fulfilled. 

(15)  To  a  series  of  icsolut  ions  ado|ited  by  the  Ciinadi;in  ;;overniueiit  in  '7r>  reail  diir- 
injl  the  session,  on  or  about  the  r.*th  of  February,  and  endorsed  l>\  a  lar;i;e  majority 
o|  the  hinise  of  cominons.  Niicli  resolutions  sliowini;  wi;  h  all  conclusiveness  that  tlio 
f^eiieral  and  complete  amiMNly  in  i|iiestion  had  not  only  been  ]iromised  and  guaran- 
teed, but  that  it  hud  even  in  en  made  a  niiif  ijiki  mm  condilion  of  alliance  with  the 
North  wesi. 

Your  humble  petitioner  res)>ectfiilly  calls,  however,  your  excellency's  and  cabiiu^t'* 
attention  to  the  tact  that  the  llmi.  A.  Macken/ie,  then  |)reinierof  Canada,  his  wliolu 
ministry  and  his  larj^e  majority  in  the  house,  instead  of  lo;;ically  concliidinji  liy  peti- 
fioniiifj  the  (.^ucen  to  lullill  the  promise,  the  V!ce-Kiiij>ly  paiol(>,  the  word  of  honor, 
the  condition  nine  t/iid  «"»/ of  the  amnesty  jicncral  ami  complete  on  the  Xortliwust 
troubles,  committed  the  fault  of  cont  innin;;  and  perpetuating;  the  bnacli  of  faith, 

I.  Hy  decreeinff  ajiainst  your  jietitioner  a  baiiishiu»'nt  of  tive  yearH. 

II.  Hy  olferin^  my  adjutant  general,  A.  I).  Lepiiie,  the  altcinative  of  a  banJHliment 
for  the  sami'  jieriod  of  time  or  the  loss  of  his  ]>oiitical  ii;;hts  forever. 

III.  J{y  iKsuiii<;  themselves  an  amnesty  to  the  rest  of  the  North\>est  people,  such  aa 
amnesty  beiii);  in  itsi'lf  a  mockery  of  Justice;  in  tin-  first  place  becau.se  the  secretary 
of  the  J)oininioii  was  bni  the  se<retary  of  a  mere  ccdony  and  had  no  more  sivereijjii 
jtower  toamncHty  iis  than  the  Northwest  would  have  had  to  amnesty  Canada;  and  in 
the  secoiiil  jdace,  the  provocation  havin;;  come  from  Ottawa,  the  fact  of  an  iinjiistag- 
jiiessor  amnestyinfi  his  victim  was  nothiiif;  else  but  the  heif^lit  of  injury,  and  may  be 
tak«'n  as  the  worst  of  our  ffrievances  a>:ainst  the  Federal  (iovernment. 

The  Imiieriul  authorities  have  allowed  all  this  to  lake  place  while  perfectly  aware 
of  the  outra;ie. 

N,  B. — In  'til',  diiriny  the  month  of  December,  Lord  firniiville,  mini8ter  of  the  col- 
oiiicH,  in  one  of  his  dispatches  to  the  j;()veriioi-fi;eiieral,  acenseh  the  Dominion  govern- 
ment of  hur'nig  hern  a  cniiHe  of  Iroiihlcs  in  the  Xoiilnie»t. 

N.  B. — And  the  Doininion  committed  these  wrongs  ajjainst  us,  after  having  offl- 
cially  confessed  that  we  were  in  the  rijjht,  as  can  be  seen  by  the  followinjr:  In  the 
Rame  month  of  December,  '(i9,  Hon,  Joseph  Howe,  secretary  of  state  for  Canada,  states 
plainly  in  a  dispatch  to  Hon,  W,  McDonj;all,  concerning  the  way  he  (McDougall)  and 
Col,  S,  Dennis  had  acted  in  the  Northwest;  that  they  had  compelled  the  people  of 
that  Territory  to  form  a  government  of  their  own:  that  such  a  government  on  ac- 
connt  of  the  circumstances  and  of  necessity  was  legal ;  that  the  responsibility  of  the 
tronbles,  even  the  shedding  of  blood,  if  it  took  jilace,  rested  on  the  Canadian  gov- 
ernriient's  otticiala,  and  bitterly  complains  of  their  imprudence  and  temeriiy. 

N.  B.— In  the  month  of  May,  1870,  Sir  Georjic  E.  Cartier,  one  of  the  ministers  wha 
had  treated  with  my  delegates  and  minister  of  militia  for  Canada,  acknowledges  ia 


LOUIS    KIEL. 


9 


n  iiii'innrnTKiiini  to  tin*  Crown  tlint  tlic  ('jiiiinliiiii  niivcnminit  liavc  caiisrd  tli»>  \orth« 
wi'Mt  troiihlt'N,  iiimI  lliiit  till'  |ti'<>))l(!  of  tlijit  'Icriilory  liiid  only  kipf  on  llic  ilrlrnNivH. 

'I'luiN  tilt'  I'^-iiNonH  wliirli  Kn^rlainl  mill  tlir  Uoniinion  liavi-  ^Ivrn  aft<'rwar<l.s  ii>  try 
and  JiiHtity  tiirir  not  t'oniplyiii^  willi,  and  tlicir  dfio^atin^  tVoni,  tli«;  treaty  oldi|;u- 
tioiiN,  will  never  amount  to  any  tiling  elm*  than  pretexinH. 

Your  IninHdo  peiitioinT  ri'MiM'ctfiilly  Mulmiils  to  yonr  excellency  and  caliiiu't  the 
following  aN  the  |ironiii.ent  (act  of  tli«<  whole  Hitinition — the  nhif  <iiiii  No/tcondition  of 
an  allianeu  with  the  Northwettt,  the  uencral  and  (oinnlelu  aniiieMty  Iihn  not  heen  fnl- 
tilled. 

('oiiHe(|iH'ntly  the  Uritiwli  fiovenirnent  I'as  had  nejtlier  tlie  rifjlit  of  introducinj;  tho 
confederation  in  the  iNorthwi-st,  aH  they  did  in  l^Tii,  neilherthe  ri^ht  of  niaiiitaininfr 
it  thcr«  Mince. 

('<»iim'(|iieiitly,  tlint  confederation  which  tlie  HritJMli  CJoveminent  NnpiiortN  lietween 
Lake  Sn))erior  and  the  KNxky  Monntains  is  an  immense  fraud  and  a  dreadtnl  t  s  ranny. 

ConNeqneiitly,  aj^ain,  tlH>  Ntate  and  the  ;;overniiient  of  tlte  Xorthwest  are  mine,  .such 
aH  they  wero  intrnnle<l  to  me  liy  the  jieoide's  voice,  at  Tort  (iarry,  the  11th  of  lehru- 
ary,  1H70,  ami  Hiich  as  re<-<)j;nized  to  me  hy  the  fonr  coinmiNHionerM  of  the  Crown  who 
have  invited  ni(>  to  treat,  and  hy  the  Crown  itself,  which  IniH  treated  with  my  del- 
oj?at«!H  through  the  Vice  Kill};  of  Canada. 

Yfinr  humble  jtetitioner  be^M  leave  to  Hiibmit  that  he  hnH  a  rinlit  to  «lenoniiee  the 
Itreach  of  faith  in  no  iin]iortant  a  matter,  to  leject  the  jiact  which  Kn^jland  has  made 
with  him  and  she  liaH  never  fulfilled,  now  iiriiici)ially,  that  your  hnndd*-  petitioner 
liaH  beiMi  ]ierHecuted,  has  exhansted  all  nicans  and  patiently  waited  duiiii;;  the  long 
jieriod  of  fifteen  years,  juincipally  now  that,  instead  of  executing  her  (ddigation« 
towaril  me,  Kngland  i.s  tiying  to  execute  me. 

Hefoie  (tod  and  before  ini  n,  the  undersigned,  your  liumhle  jMtitioner.  de<larcH  IiIh 
native  land  free,  and  lian  the  honor  to  ask  your  excellency  and  nu)st  InuioraMe  min- 
isterN  for  the  advantage  of  annexing  the  Niirthwest  to  the  great  Amerii  iin  K'epniilic. 

Your  linmbh^  j>etitiiiuer  respectfully  asks,  as  American  citizen,  for  your  kind  and 
powerful  proteeti(Ui.  In  the  event  of  yonr  excellemy  ami  most  honorable  cabinet 
granting  my  reipicHt  as  American  citizen,  I.  the  ninlcrsigncd,  have  the  honor  to  unk 
tiiat  the  international  limi  between  the  Cuited  .States  and  the  Noithwest  be  blotted 
out  from  Lake  Superior  to  the  Tacitic  Ocean,  that  ihe  llou.  James  \V.  Taylor.  United 
StateH  consul  at  Winnipeg,  be  a)i|)ointc(l  governor-general  of  those  vast  terriiories, 
and  with  the  merciful  help  of  Cod's  |irovidcuce.  if  snili  would  be  the  dis|ioHiiion  of 
your  good  will  and  the  favor  of  yonr  government.  1,  the  undersigned,  humbly  ask  you 
to  up|)oint  me  aH  first  minister  and  secretary  ot  the  Northwest  under  Hon.  James  W. 
Taylor. 

Your  humble  petitioner  resj»ectfully  submits  that  he  has  no  ill  will  whatever  against 
his  enemies;  that  Ins  great  wish  is  to  save  his  friends  .ind  as  well  to  better,  all  he 
can,  the  condition  of  tliosi*  against  him.  I'hercfore  I  n's)>ectfnlly  submit  that,  in  the 
case  of  such  a  iirovidential  tneut,  your  excellency  and  most  honorable  ministers  may 
be  ]deased  to  introduce  and  inaugurate  the  I'nited  States  institutions  in  the  grainl 
Northwent,  without  changing,  for  the  present,  the  local  ofliinals  and  emi)Ioy^s  of  all 
sorts,  so  as  to  avoid  n  (commotion  ;  so  as  to  satisfy  and  pleasi*  all  classes  and  all  |iarties 
and  so  as  to  secure  more  surely  the  su«'cess  of  the  national  institutions  in  this  large 
portion  of  the  world,  for  the  glory  of  your  administration,  and  for  the  haitpiness  of 
this  my  native  land. 

Your  humble  petitioner  thanks  yonr  ex«  elleucy  and  your  government  for  the  good 
they  have  already  so  generously  conferred  upon  him. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  of  yonr  excellency  anil  ol  your  cabinet,  the  very  respect- 
ful and  humble  servant  and  petitioner. 

Lori.s  "1)avii)"  Kiel. 


No.  :>, 

Petition  of  the  citizens  of  Wayland,  Mass. 

August  18,  1885. 

The  undersigned,  citiztins  of  the  town  of  Wayland,  State  of  Mas- 
sachasetts,  respectfully  represent  that  Louis  Riel  was  born  at  St.  Vital, 
Manitoba;  that  he  was  duly  naturalized  a  citizen  of  the  United  States 
of  America  at  Helena,  Mont.,  on  the  16th  day  of  March,  1883 ;  that  he 
was  arrested  in  Canada,  tried  'ind  condetnned  for  treason,  and  sentenced 
to  be  hung  upon  the  18th  day  of  September  next;  that  we  think  he  was 


10 


LOUIS   KIEL. 


denied  tbe  rights  to  wliich  he  was  entitled  as  an  American  citizen,  and 
we  woiihl  most  respectfully  petition  you  in  your  ofiicial  capacity  to  in- 
quire into  the  matter  of  said  trial,  and  if  said  Biel  has  been  denied  his 
rights  as  an  American  citizen,  that  you  will  use  your  utmost  power, 
with  due  regard  to  the  honor  and  integrity  of  the  United  States,  to  se- 
cure him  his  rights. 

John  Lamarine, 
Meddie  Scott, 
Frank  Lovely, 
M.  R.  Brown, 
W.  C.  Smith, 
Alphonse  Allaire, 
(J.  E.  Brummett, 

and  fifty -eight  others. 
Hon.  Thomas  F.  Bayard, 

Secretary  of  State. 


No.  6. 


Mr.  A.  Choquet  to  Mr.  Bayard. 

Rochester,  N.  T.,  October  15, 1885.    (Received  October  16.) 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you  the  petition  of  the  French 
Canadians,  citizens  of  the  United  States,  residing  in  the  city  of  Roches- 
ter, ;N.  Y.,  praying  for  the  interference  of  the  United  States  Government 
in  favor  of  the  poor  and  insane  Louis  David  Riel,  now  languishing  in 
jad  at  Regina,  Northwest  Territory  of  Canada,  under  sentence  of  death. 

I  have  delayed  the  transmission  of  this  petition  until  I  received  an 
authentic  copy  of  the  certificate  of  naturalization  of  Riel,  which  came  to 
me  only  a  few  days  ago. 

By  my  former  personal  acquaintance  with  Riel,  and  with  the  recent 
information  received  from  reliable  parties,  I  am  convinced  that  Riel  is 
now  insane. 

I  would  therefore  humbly  suggest  that  this  fact  be  ascertained  by 
the  United  States  Government  to  prevent,  in  case  of  failure  of  the 
appeal  now  pending  before  the  privy  council  of  England,  the  hanging 
ot  an  unfortunate  insane  citizen  of  the  United  States. 
Verj'  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Ambrose  Choquet, 
Counselor  at  Laic,  11  and  12  Ulicood  Building,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


[Iiicloanre  i.] 
Petition  of  French-Canadian  oitisena  of  the  United  Stales  residing  at  Rochester,  N,  Y. 

To  the  Hon.  T.  F.  Eavaud, 

Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States : 

The  inidersigued,  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  of  French-Canadian  uatioualitjr, 
respectfully  lepreseiit,  as  they  are  credibly  informed  and  verily  believe  : 

That  Louis  David  Riel  is,  and  was  at  the  time  of  his  trial,  a  naturalized  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  and  had  for  many  years  and  up  to  the  time  of  the  troubles  in 
which  he  became  invo  veJ  in  Canada,  resided  at  Montana,  in  the  United  States,  where 
he  was  engaged  as  a  t  "acher  ; 


LOUIS   RIEL. 


11 


That  whilHt  residing  there  lie  was  prevailed  upon  to  go  to  Canada  to  intercede  for 
the  oppressed  inhabitants  of  the  Canadian  northwest  territory  ; 

That  while  residing  temporarily  there  he  was  arraigned  and  indicted  for  high  trea- 
son against  Her  Majesty  the  Qneen  of  England  ; 

That  during  the  month  of  July  last  he  was  put  upon  his  trial,  which  resulted  in 
his  conviction  and  sentence  of  death  ; 

Tliiit,  as  yonr  jtPtitioners  are  credibly  informed,  his  trial  was  not  only  not  impartial, 
but  that  lu'  was  deprived  of  giving  evidence  which  might  have  shown  him  entirely 
innocent  of  the  offense  of  which  he  was  accused  ; 

That  under  the  then  existing  political  excitement  in  Canada,  resulting  in  a  meas- 
ure from  questions  bearing  upon  the  rights  of  the  i)eople  for  whom  he  was  contend- 
inc.  he  was  deprived  of  the  means  of  making  his  best  defense,  and  that  his  trial  was 
unfair,  partial,  and  unjust ; 

That,  as  your  petitioners  are  advised  and  believe,  the  court  before  whom  he  was 
trie<l  was  without  jurisdiction,  and  that  his  conviction  was  unsupported  by  the  evi- 
dence and  contrary  to  law. 

Yt)ur  petitioners  therefore  ask  such  interposition  on  the  part  of  the  United  States 
Go\erninent  as  may  seem  reasoimble  and  just  for  the  relief  and  protection  of  one  of 
its  ailopted  citizens,  now  languishing  under  tiie  sentence  of  death  by  a  foreign  court. 


Kochester,  N. 


Y.,  August '.iK,  IdSo. 


A.  E.  Maxseau, 

PiKRKK   GaGNIEK. 

Loris  G.  La  Fontaine, 
and  s'Xtvsix  others. 


jIlK  I08UIII   2.  ] 

Copy  of  the  naluralizaiion  ccrtiftcdlc  of  f.ouh  David  Riel. 

In  tlie  United  States  district  court  of  the.  third  Judicial  district  of  the  Territory  of 

Montana. 


Present,  Hon.  D.  S.  Wade, 


judge. 


In  till    matfei'  of  the  nppUcntiim   of  ^.oiih   Darid  L'irl,  av  alien,  to  become  a  citizen  of 

the   (.'nited   Staten  of  .tnurica. 

In  open  court,  March  term,  A.  D.  ISs;},  this  Kith  day  of  March,  A.  D.  188:5,  as  yet  of 
said  term. 

It  appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  this  court,  by  the  oaths  of  E.  L.  Merrill  and 
Leni  .ieroiiK!,  cjjtizens  of  tlie  Uniteil  States  of  America,  witnesses  for  that  purpose, 
tirst  duly  sworn  and  examined,  that  Louis  David  Kiel,  a  native  of  Canada,  has  re- 
sided within  the  limits  and  under  the  juri.sdietion  of  the  United  States  live  years  at 
least,  last  past,  and  within  the  Territory  of  Montana  for  one  yea"*  last  past ;  and  that 
<lnring  all  of  said  five  years'  time  he  has  behaved  as  a  man  of  good  moral  character, 
attached  to  the  principles  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  well  dis- 
posed to  the  good  order  and  hajipiness  of  the  siime  ;  and  it  also  appearing  to  the 
court,  by  competent  evidi^nce;  that  the  said  ai)plicant  has  heretofore,  and  more  than 
two  years  since,  and  in  due  form  of  law,  declared  his  intention  to  become  a  citizen 
of  the  United  States:  and  having  now  here,  before  this  court,  taken  an  oath  that  he 
will  sujiport  the  Constitution  of  the  Unitetl  States  of  America,  and  that  he  doth  ab- 
solutely and  entirely  renounce  anil  abjure  all  allegiance  and  fidelity  to  every  foreign 
prince.  ]totentate,  state,  or  sovereignty  whatever,  and  particularly  to  Victoria,  Queen 
of  Great  Britain,  it  is  thertifore  ordered,  adjudged,  and  decreed,  that  the  said  Louis 
David  Riel  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  admitted  and  declared  to  be  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

D.  S.  Wauk, 

Judge. 

Signature:  Louis  David  Kiki- 

Offne  of  the  clerk  of  the  United  Staten  dit<triet  eourt  of  the  third  judicial  district  of  the 

Territory  of  Montana,  ss  : 

I,  B.  H.  Tatem,  clerk  of  the  United  States  district  court  of  the  third  judicial  dis- 
trict of  the  Territory  of  Montana,  *-aid  court  being  a  court  of  record  having  common 
law  jurisdiction  and  u  clerk  and  seal,  do  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  copy  of  the 


12 


LOUIS   KIEL. 


act  of  naturalization  of  Louie  David  Kiel,  as  the  same  appears  upon  the  records  of 
naid  court  now  in  my  office. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  affixed  the  seal  of  said 
court  this  27th  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eighty-live  and  hi  the  year  of  o>!r  Independence  tlie  lOJth. 

K.  n.  Tatem,  Clerk. 

C.  U.  Kkynoi.ds,  Deputy  Clerk. 


No.  7. 


•  Mr.  Bayard  to  Mr.  A.  Choqnet. 

Department  op  State, 
Washington,  October  27, 1885. 

Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  23(1  instaut  was  duly  received,  as  well  as  that 
of  the  15th  instant,  in  regard  to  the  intervention  of  this  Government 
in  favor  of  Louis  David  Kiel,  under  sentence  of  death  at  Kegina,  in 
Canada. 

I  need  not  assure  you  that  the  petition  of  certain  American  citizens 
of  French  origin,  which  accompanied  your  first  letter,  received  such 
careful  attention  as  the  importance  of  the  subject  required. 

The  friends  of  Kiel  Lad  already  niade  personal  application  at  this 
Department  to  know  how  far  the  United  States  Government  could 
properly  interfere  with  the  execution  of  the  sentence  of  the  Canadian 
court.  They  received  a  full  verbal  reply,  which  took  into  considera- 
tion Kiel's  alleged  American  citizenship.  Such  citizenship,  however,  it 
must  be  remarked,  even  if  beyond  doubt,  would  not  secure  the  posses- 
sor any  immunity  from  Canadian  law,  when,  as  it  is  definitely  certified 
to  this  Government  in  the  case  in  the  present  instance,  the  offense  was 
committed  within  the  territory  of  the  Dominion. 

It  shall  always  be  my  first  duty  to  see  that  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
American  citizens  are  jealously  guarded,  and  that  they  receive  such 
treatment  at  the  hands  of  foreign  governments  as  our  treaties,  inter- 
national law,  and  the  claims  of  humanity  require. 
I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.  r.  Bayard. 


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